Making bandsaw wheels Many people prefer to use self-aligning bearing flanges for the wheels like the one pictured here. If you go that route, you should glue and bolt the bearings to the wheels very firmly. The wheels are cut from some 20 mm thick MDF. I don’t like using MDF, but people often ask if MDF can be used for the wheels.
This time I’ll show off how I made the saw’s wheels and the pulleys. In the first photo we can see the wheels of the band saw in the SketchUp. Now I can finally place the wheels on the saw so that I can finally turn their edges.
He is saying to make your bandsaw wheels out of 18.75″ pulley’s with a 5/8″ belt stretched on to it. The wheel would be fairly narrow, but from what little I know of bandsaw blade tracking, the blade rides on the crown anyway so there is no need for a wider surface area. I’ve seen a couple that the drive belt wraps 2/3 the way around the pulley, and then goes over sheave on motor, eliminating the need for a second pulley on the drive end.
The basic idea is to make a band saw that uses a series of smaller wheels to replace the upper wheel. These smaller wheels would follow the natural arc of a much larger wheel to reduce the bending stress on the blade. Nothing really fancy for the wheel mounts, just strips of plywood screwed through spacers to the backer.
His approach to the wheels was to laminate two layers of 3/4″ MDF together, drill a center, mount a hub with ball bearings in each side, and turn it on an axel mounted to a crude jig attached to a scroll saw. Turning the wheel slowly on the axel mounted a fixed distance from the blade, he cut the circle. The wheel hub / bearing mounts were inexpensive, and the spindles were hardened round stock – also not expensive.
how to make bandsaw wheels Related Question:
Why are bandsaw wheels crowned?
The reasoning behind the crown on the bandwheel is to help the saw track better on the wheel, and also to keep its position much more stable. A crowned wheel is not always necessary, many sawmills run flat wheels.
What should you not do with a bandsaw?
Never clear small pieces while blade is moving. Never adjust saw or setup while saw is running. Never cross arms. Always follow 4 inch rule.
Why are the wheels of the bandsaw fitted with rubber tires?
A primary advantage of rubber band saw tires is that they stretch in place for a perfect fit and offer versatility — they work with virtually any type of portable or stationary vertical band saws. Some rubber tires can even be cut to fit the width of a non-standard wheel.
What are the wheels on a bandsaw called?
Bandsaw Wheels (Pulleys) These wheels move in one direction. When changing your bandsaw blade, make sure your teeth are pointed facing downward.
Which way should the teeth face on a bandsaw?
On a typical wood or metal cutting blade the hook or of point of the blade should be pointing down for a vertical blade bandsaw, or for a horizontal blade saw the hook of the teeth should be pointed such that they enter the workpiece first as the blade moves.
Why does my bandsaw blade wander?
Tim Inman: Because band saw blades ride on crowned wheels, they always have a little “camber” angle relative to the vertical axis of the wheel. This causes the blade to tip a little and makes the cut “pull” to the side.
How tight should my bandsaw blade be?
The blade should deflect no more than 1/4 in. A good place to begin is to tension the blade until the meter reads proper tension for the next wider blade. For example, if you’re tensioning a 3/8-in. blade, I would set the scale to 1/2 in.
Why does my bandsaw spark?
Ceramics can cause sparks. Or, if your thrust bearing is too far past the blade, more toward the center of the bearing than the edge, then it won’t turn and you’ll get sparks too, and possibly wear a groove in the bearing.
Why can’t I cut a straight line with my bandsaw?
Band Saw: Why won’t my band saw cut straight? When the band saw cuts crooked, a dull blade, improper feeding, loose blade tension or not using a work piece guide could be the cause. Use the rip fence or miter gauge to guide the work piece uniformly through the cutting blade to make straight cuts.